Stephen Flynn has been appointed as the new economy and transport secretary for Scotland, taking over the reins from Fiona Hyslop as she steps down from both the role and as an MP after 27 years in Holyrood.
Announcing the new members of the Scottish cabinet yesterday, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney named the eight people who comprise his new ‘slimline' cabinet:
- Jenny Gilruth - Deputy First Minister, and Finance and Local Government
- Ivan McKee - Public Service Reform
- Angela Constance - Health and Care
- Màiri McAllan - Education, Culture and Gaelic
- Neil Gray - Justice
- Shirley-Anne Somerville - Social Justice and Housing
- Gillian Martin - Climate Action and Rural Affairs
- Stephen Flynn - Economy, Transport and Tourism
A former SNP Westminster leader, Mr Flynn has been tipped as a potential future leader of the party, according to the BBC, and was only elected to the Scottish Parliament for the first time in the recent elections.
Mr Swinney said: ‘I know that Stephen Flynn will give excellent leadership to all of that activity'.
